Student Regent Explains Vote Not To Renew Dunn's Contract

Murray State University's Board of Regents Student member Jeremiah Johnson is defending his vote to not renew President Randy Dunn’s contract. Johnson's vote was not based in any official position of the Student Government Association.

The student regent serves as president of the Student Government Association. Johnson says his vote not to renew Dunn’s contract stems from an unofficial vote taken at an SGA meeting in the Fall of 2012. He says the vote does not appear in the official meeting minutes because only one person out of 46 voted for Dunn and SGA would not take a public stance in opposition of the President.

Johnson believes SGA's lack of support for Dunn comes from a push from the administration to build a new library using student fees. The library plan failed. Johnson now regrets the SGA's vote was unofficial, especially after fellow Regents Phil Schooley and Susan Guess asked why SGA would not take a stance. In early 2012 SGA completed an email survey of Dunn’s performance, but Johnson says he was reluctant to use that data because the survey was accidentally sent to some faculty and staff as well.

(UPDATE 9:23 April 4th)MSU Chief Information Officer Linda Miller says the faculty and staff that were issued the survey are, in fact, students. So, the results should be an accurate representation of student input.

Johnson says those surveys have been misplaced and he is looking for them. WKMS has an outstanding request for them at this time.

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